Attempts to enhance surface area and graphitization degree of activated carbon from biomass waste

Abstract

Activated carbon has gained its popularity in energy storage application as an electrode for supercapacitor and hybrid capacitor. It is cheap, abundant, high carbon content, large surface area, unique pore characteristics and high oxygen functional group. However, its properties are highly depending on its precursor and synthesize methods. In order to control its properties, several methods have been attempted to modify the properties of activated carbon. This is including variation of the synthesize method, used of various activating agent, heteroatom doping, utilization of carbonization catalyst and graphitization. In this talk, we highlight the effect of hydrothermal carbonization condition (catalyst, temperature, doping) and graphitization into the properties of activated carbon. Produced carbons were characterized by BET, SEM-EDX, XRD, Raman and FTIR to investigate its properties. Thus, biomass waste derived activated carbon could meet the criteria of carbon used in energy storage application. In addition, the environment problem due to those waste could be solved properly.